A recent Sports Illustrated article listed the overrated and underrated in the sports world. For instance, gymnastics, cheerleading, Bill Mazeroski, Vince Lombardi and miniature golf were listed as overrated. Badminton, synchronized swimming, Bobby Grich, Scotty Bowman and wiffle ball were underrated.
It also opined that being underrated was overrated and being overrated was underrated. After all, what's wrong with being overrated? Who doesn't like being thought of as better than they actually are? Conversely, being underrated isn't so great. Besides, if the consensus is that you are underrated, are you really?
In any event, here's another opinion of who and what is overrated and underrated:
Overrated: Gary Crowton's coaching in 2001. He inherited the best running back in BYU history, a clutch quarterback and got lucky in several close games while starting the year 12-0. Crowton did a nice job coaching last season — but he wasn't the "genius" people were making him out to be.
Underrated: Crowton's coaching this year. Despite uncertainty at the QB position, injuries and general bad luck, the Cougars are one win away from getting to another bowl game. Crowton's made mistakes, but he's not the know-nothing some people are making him out to be.
Overrated: Rick Majerus' sense of humor. Put the Ute coach in front of a microphone with national media members around and it's "A Night at the Improv." They eat it up. The problem is, he only has variations on about four jokes — how unathletic his team is, his (over) weight, anecdotes about eating binges at various restaurants and his desire to date a super model (usually Cindy Crawford). Plus, he doesn't even try to be funny unless national media are around. He won't waste his "good stuff" on the locals.
Underrated: Jerry Sloan's sense of humor. The veteran Jazz coach doesn't go for traditional one-liners. His humor is more subtle and bitingly sarcastic — punched up with Illinois farmer colloquialisms. More of an acquired taste, but good stuff.
Overrated: Karl Malone's political ambition. In the past couple of years the Mailman has talked about running for office in Utah, Arkansas and/or Louisiana. It would be entertaining — he'd be more prone to malapropisms than our current president — but it'll never happen. He often withstands beatings in the paint during NBA games, but he's too sensitive to outside criticism to be a good politician.
Underrated: Dale Murphy's political ambition. The two-time National League MVP has indicated that he may run for governor of Utah. He's not Jessie "the Body" Ventura when it comes to public speaking, but Utahns seem to like cookie-cutter, conservative candidates. He's certainly electable in this state.
Overrated: John Madden. Yeah, Monday Night Football's ratings are up slightly from last season. Still, I can't be the only person sick of this master of the obvious. "Boom! Right there! Now that's a tackle." You can't get insight like that from just any ol' color commentator.
Underrated: Dennis Miller. Sure, his humor missed more often that it hit during his two years on Monday Night Football. His obscure references were sometimes annoying. Still, Miller would occasionally say something funny enough to make blowouts bearable.
Overrated: The Mountain West Conference in football. The league is ticked off about not being in the BCS? In reality, the MWC is about on par with the BSC — the Big Sky Conference. No way does this league deserve four bowl berths.
Underrated: The Sun Belt Conference in football. Utah State fans learned that the new league won't be a cakewalk when the Aggies lost to the Sun Belt's Louisiana-Monroe one week before Louisiana-Monroe was drilled 41-2 by North Texas in a league game.
Overrated: Keith Van Horn. Yeah, he's Utah's all-time leading scorer and helped the Nets to the NBA Finals last year. He can score — but he's a poor defender and won't make the 76ers any better.
Underrated: Andre Miller. Let's face it, Miller helped make Van Horn the No. 2 overall draft pick in 1997. Then — with Van Horn gone — Miller carried the Utes to the national championship game. Now the Clippers will become a playoff team with Miller's unselfish play and quiet leadership.
Overrated: Going to a bowl game. There are simply too many of them. Going to a bowl used to really mean something. Now, half the MWC gets in. It's no big deal anymore.
Underrated: Getting into the NCAA basketball tournament. It's still a big deal.
Overrated: NBA basketball. Too many games. Too many spoiled multimillionaires. Not enough guys who can make an 18-foot jumper.
Underrated: College basketball. The NCAA tourney is the best sporting event of the year.
Overrated: BYU's last football recruiting class. Yeah, Ben Olson may end up being the "real deal." But no one will know until 2005 — at the earliest.
Underrated: Skyline High's last recruiting class. The Eagles are down a bit this year, but wait until this year's sophomores are seniors.
E-MAIL: lojo@desnews.com